UK
& Nigeria
The Good Funeral Guide
Why You
Need a Funeral Plan
Your loved ones will be devastated at your
passing, and the last thing you want is to leave them with the burden of
struggling to pay for your funeral when you pass. Benjamin Franklin is said to
have once lamented death and taxes are life’s only certainties. He was not
mistaken.
Planning for a funeral is not something
that any of us look forward too. Though not the most pleasant of topics;
ensuring that you have paid into a funeral plan will relieve your family and
friends of the responsibility of financing your funeral while grieving your
loss. You will feel relieved knowing that you have taken care of the
arrangements ahead of time and are fully prepared, should it come to the worst.
There are many reasons why you may want to
secure a funeral plan. One of them we just talked about: not wanting to leave a
financial setback for your family.
Another is protection against the ever
climbing cost of having a funeral. A plan will lock your contribution in at
today’s rates and is guaranteed to be there to cover the inevitable.
Having a plan also removes any doubt as to
your last wishes for the ceremony. This is yet another reason to obtain such a
plan is to dictate the details of your funeral. If you desire to have a
traditional Islamic burial, it is especially important to make sure that your
funeral plan will cover the costs associated with the aspects of an Islamic
funeral. Some plans only cover certain aspects of a burial, so you will need to
ensure that the plan you choose covers the kind of funeral you prefer to have.
If you’d like to eliminate any confusion over how you want to be laid to rest,
a funeral plan will outline your preferences and be used to arrange your burial
when the time comes.
You may also wonder if you can obtain a
plan for someone else. Well, you certainly can. One option is to pay into a
plan with the name left blank, so that it can be used by any of your family or
whomever else you choose to use it for.
Do you feel prepared right now? If not,
then now is the time to start taking steps to take care of your future and not
leave a hassle for your loved ones.
What
is a Funeral Plan?
A funeral plan is a fund that protects you
and your family from the rising costs of burial, and to avoid uncertainty as to
the desired last wishes of the deceased. Given the high emotional tension
surrounding the passing of a loved-one, a funeral plan alleviates some of the
stress by taking the financial and ceremonial planning burden off those left
behind. The contributions you make to a funeral plan are secured in a trust
fund that is only accessible when the death occurs. The family of the deceased
individual need only call the provider when this happens to set the funeral
arrangements in motion.
A funeral plan is a good way to exercise
some form of control over the unexpected. It spares your loved ones the stress
of financing your funeral without the necessary funds. One popular type of
funeral plan is the prepaid plan. It allows you to make a contribution to the
plan at today’s prices so that loved ones will not have to pay extra after your
passing due to rising rates.
How
to Obtain a Funeral Plan
Applying for a funeral plan is fairly
simple. You can do so from home, if you wish, online, by phone, or through the
mail. You can choose to make a lump sum payment, or monthly installments. Each
plan covers different things, so review your choice carefully to ensure that
you are satisfied.
You can obtain one through a funeral plan
provider or a funeral director. Check with the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA)
to find a list of registered funeral directors and providers in the UK. Haji
Taslim Funerals specifically provides plans for Muslim funerals, which may ease
the pressure of finding a general funeral plan that will cover all aspects of
an Islamic funeral. Many Islamic funeral providers operate as part of
family-run businesses, which you can locate online or through the following
organizations:
● National Association of Funeral
Directors (NAFD; www.nafd.org.uk)
● Society of Allied and
Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF; www.saif.org.uk)
In Nigeria, you can contact institutions
such as The Funeral Lady Palace, Apams Ltd, Mazonia Funeral Services, and
others to obtain a plan. They will walk you through the options and process of
obtaining a plan suitable to your needs. Specific information regarding plans is
available on their website, plus they may also be contacted by phone. With
Nigeria’s stronger Muslim presence, you may find that the funeral plans offered
already cover the aspects of an Islamic ceremony. Do ensure to review the fine
print before selecting a plan, just to be sure.
Typically, a plan covers the costs of the
funeral director’s services, as well as complete or partial contribution to
burial costs. Some may cover the costs of the religious service, viewing, and
transportation of the deceased, while excluding the burial plot itself and
decorations. Don’t purchase a plan until you have fully reviewed all the
details and ensured that you will get all the coverage you need.
Your plan is also where you dictate how you
would like the service to proceed. Should you desire a certain song be played,
reading be recited, verses be recited from the Holy Book, etc. this is where
you would add that detail. For an Islamic funeral, this is important, as you
may include instructions for a traditional burial here. Usually you can adjust
this later on, if you wish.
When the time comes to use the plan, your
loved ones will only need to contact the provider to activate the plan. A
funeral director will guide them through the process of arranging the funeral.
There usually will not be any additional paperwork as the plan is used to pay
the funeral director fees. However, always read the fine print to ensure that
the details of the plan are just as you want them to be.
Average Costs of Funerals
According to a local report in the Funeral Arrangement’s
Guide, the average cost of a Nigerian funeral is just under $10000 US. This
price includes fees for the director and staff that cover the basics of funeral
planning, such as obtaining needed permits and certificates, housing the body,
and coordination with the cemetery or crematory as needed. It also covers other
optional services, such as embalming, a ceremony or viewing at the funeral
home, a hearse or limousine, casket or urn, and so forth. Finally, there are
the cash advances required by Nigerian funeral homes for any goods or services
they source from others for you, such as flowers, a minister, musicians, etc.
Depending on the kind of funeral you wish to have, the cost can be as low as
$1000 US or as high as the stated average. In the UK,
the cost for the average funeral is about the same, at a little below $10000
US, or ￡7600, according to an article in the Daily Mail UK.
Your funeral plan will likely not cover
every single aspect of your funeral, but it should cover a healthy portion of
it, at the very least. With most funeral plans, you can choose to make monthly installments
over a period of time (generally up to 10 years), or make a lump-sum payment.
It's generally best to pay for your plan as quickly as you can, to avoid
running up higher interest and administrative charges. Try to pay for your plan
in a year or less, if you can.
Choosing
a Funeral Plan
While making your decision, think about how
your family would fare financially after your passing. The funeral plan covers
only the cost of your funeral, so remember to keep the bigger picture in mind.
If your family finances are such that your estate can comfortably cover the
cost of a funeral, a basic plan is all you may need. Spend some time comparison
shopping before you make a final decision. A good way to do this is to use a
comparison website to get an idea of what your options are. However, do not
select a plan until you have called and discussed with the providers to talk
about their offers in depth and you are satisfied with your final selection.
Here is an example of a funeral plan
comparison, offered by Dignity Funeral Services (www.dignityfuneralplans.co.uk):
To view the rest of this comparison, please
click here. At the end of this plan, this particular funeral plan provider
outlined what is not covered by one
of their plans. They included medical certification fees, embalming, the burial
plot and headstone, flowers, and the costs of catering and a viewing.
Repatriation is not covered, and neither is the cost of removing pacemakers and
artificial limbs the deceased may have had. They also stipulate that special
request may be entertained, and if so, may also incur extra charges. This is
why it is very important to review the details of a plan carefully before
settling on one.
There are several questions you should ask
a funeral plan provider before buying into one. For example, there is the
obvious: what is included in the plan? Find out how much leeway you have with changing
the details of the plan, and if there are any additional costs attached to
doing so.
Also, you should know about cancellation
policies and charges. You never know if you may want to cancel the plan. Also
ask about the funeral director: can you choose your own? What happens if they
go out of business? For an Islamic funeral, you may also want to know if a
non-standard funeral service can be arranged under the plan.
There are financial questions you should
ask as well. What policy does the plan have regarding a death that occurs
abroad? What happens if you or the intended recipient passes away before the
plan is completely paid? How is the plan handled if it covers both you and a
spouse, but you then decide to separate? What are the maximum and minimum terms
over which you can pay into the plan, and how much interest do the various
options attract?
Whatever plan you choose, be sure to have a
separate written record of the arrangements and preferences you have selected,
so that there is a backup in case anything goes wrong.
What Happens if Death Occurs Abroad?
Funeral plans taken out in
the UK will apply to funerals held in the UK. Although your funeral director
may assist in arranging repatriation, it will be the responsibility of your
family or your travel insurance plan to finance this.
If there is a high
likelihood that you will be abroad at the time of your passing (you travel
often or spend extensive amounts of time overseas), then it is in your best
interest to obtain travel insurance that will cover the cost of sending your
body back home should that unfortunately be required.
Find out from the funeral
director if they would be able to assist your family in collecting the
insurance payment and arranging transport of the body, should it become necessary.
It may prove helpful and be an emotional relief for your family. Just remember
those costs will not be covered by a funeral plan.
What Happens, if Death Occurs before Plan is Paid?
If you choose to pay your
plan by installments, there is a chance that you could pass away before the
plan is fully paid. In this case, the funeral will still be arranged, however
whoever you have chosen as your personal representative will be responsible for
paying the outstanding balance. Depending on how much of a contribution you
have already made, this is, at least, better having your family need to come up
with all of the funds for the funeral.
However, this is one
reason why it’s important to pay for your plan entirely as quickly as possible.
The longer you take to pay for your plan, the more you open yourself up to
leaving a burden for your family, as well as incurring further costs in the
form of interest and service fees.
In some cases, your
representative may be able to cancel the plan entirely, resulting in a refund
of all payments made to the plan purchase or the plan holder’s estate. Be sure
to speak to your plan provider about the details surrounding this. They may
simply require that the balance be paid by your surviving representative.
Alternatives to a Funeral Plan
Do you have to buy a
funeral plan? Not necessary. Other alternatives include a life insurance
policy, funds obtained from your estate, or, of course, a traditional savings
account. Like anything else, they each have their pros and cons.
An over-50s life insurance
plan can be beneficial to individuals who cannot pay for standard life
insurance due to their medical conditions. It does pay out a lump sum at the
time of your death, but that type of plan doesn’t increase the payout to match
inflation, which could result in very high premiums.
Now, you could go with a
regular savings account. The plus here is that you earn interest on the money
you store there. However, this interest income may not be enough to keep up
with the rising cost of funeral services, thus causing your loved ones to have
to make up the difference. Also, you’ll need to grant a trusted family member
or other individual access to the account for it to be used following your
death.
Finally, you can have
funeral expenses paid from your estate. Upon presentation of the funeral
director’s bill and a copy of the death certificate, the bank will typically
release the funds.
Funeral Regulations & Required Documents
The UK government
stipulates that upon the death of any individual, a death certificate be
obtained and the death be registered, generally within 5 days of death. The
death is to be reported to a coroner (by you or a doctor) who must then approve
registration. Only after registration will you be provided with the documents
needed to arrange the funeral.
This may pose a challenge
for an Islamic funeral as the documents cannot be received in time to hold the
funeral the following day. You may need to use an online death registration
tool, if possible, to register the death yourself.
Once the body has been
released, you can contact a funeral director to arrange the funeral. To ensure
that you are assisted by an ethical director, choose one who is a member of one
of the three following organizations.
● National
Federation of Funeral Directors
● National
Association of Funeral Directors
● Society of
Allied and Independent Funeral Directors
Obtaining a Death Certificate
There are a number of ways
to obtain a death certificate when someone passes away. It depends on the
circumstances of the death, as we will discuss below. If the death occurs at
home, in a hospital or care home, abroad, or suddenly in another place, certain
steps should be taken as soon as possible.
If the death occurs at
home, a medical physician should be called immediately. A physician will be
able to issue a medical certificate outlining the cause of death right away if
the death was anticipated. However, if the cause of death is unknown, they will
not be able to do this and the death will be reported to a coroner and the body
transported to the nearest hospital mortuary, where a post-mortem may be
carried out. Call emergency medical services if you do not have a family
physician available. In any case, once a medical certificate is obtained, the
nearest kin or the individual in charge of the funeral should take it to the
nearest Birth, Death and Marriage Registrar to obtain a death certificate.
The process is similar
should the death occur in hospital, only that a physician will definitely be
available to issue the medical certificate for you to take to the registrar.
They may wish to conduct a post mortem, but it is not usually mandatory. Now,
if a sudden death occurs for which no cause is clear, it must be reported to a
coroner immediately, who will decide if the post mortem is required or not. If
not, they will issue a notification that should be brought to the registrar,
however if one is required, then a death certificate cannot be obtained until
that is complete.
Let’s spend a little time
on handling deaths abroad. The death will need to be registered in the country where
it occurred, however some countries also allow you to register with UK
authorities as well. Bringing the body back to the UK will require a certified
English-language copy of the death certificate, and permission from a coroner,
if one was involved. Once the body has arrived home, bring the death
certificate to the local registrar office, where you will receive a certificate
stating no liability to register. The funeral director will need this to
proceed with the arrangements.
The actual procedure to
register a death must be performed by a relative, if one is available. Others
are permitted to do so, only in the absence of next-of-kin. The process
includes:
● Making an
appointment with the registrar’s office, or making a formal declaration in any
registration district if a trip cannot be made
● Presenting the
medical certificate stating cause of death and all personal details of the
deceased (including full names, date and place of death, address, other names
they have gone by, date and place of birth, marital status, information about
their partner, and their occupation.
● The individuals
NHS and/or medical care number may also be required, perhaps at a later time.
● A series of
questions regarding the individual.
Following this process, if
all is in order, the registrar will issue a death certificate and any other
necessary documents.
Handling Finances after Death
Although
you will no longer have the worry, it is your responsibility to ensure that
your loved ones are aware of how to handle your finances after you pass.
Typically, the government will require any taxes such as inheritance tax, in
particular, to be paid before any remaining funds are distributed to your
beneficiaries. This tax is on the cash and property of an individual who has
passed away. Your representative should ensure that this is paid within 6
months of your death, or it will begin to attract interest charges. The amount
is 40% of the amount above the first ￡325,000 worth of your estate.
After that, there is
income tax to consider. Your estate will either owe tax, or be eligible for a
tax refund. Your personal representative should contact the HM Revenue &
Customs to handle the adjustment of tax calculations. In fact, there are
services in the UK that will allow
your representative to inform several government agencies at once about your
passing. These services are known as Tell
Us Once and Bereavement Service,
depending on your particular location. The agencies will direct your
representative from there with instructions on completing your tax return,
paying tax on any income received by your estate, such as rent, and other
monies, such as savings and investments, both local and foreign. A Self
Assessment tax return will likely be necessary.
Be sure that your
representative knows to notify your insurers and creditors of your passing as
quickly as possible, ideally within a month of your death. These include banks,
societies, credit card companies, insurance companies, pension administrators,
utility companies and any other entities that you had financial dealings with.
This can be done either by phone, or by visiting local branches. In some cases,
it can be handled online as well. Your representative will need a copy of the
death certificate and the contact details for the executor of the estate. In
fact, he or she will need several copies of this for the various entities who
will need to see it. Plan for this in advance by ensuring that they are aware
of the need for several copies when your death is registered.
Is
There a Will, or Isn’t There?
A Will should be a vital part of your
overall future planning. If you haven’t obtained one, best get to it right
away. If you do not, the government will decide where your money, property, and
belongings go. And that is not something you want.
Your Will is something you can write
yourself, if it’s straightforward. However, if it is complicated, then seek
professional assistance from a lawyer. Regardless of the method you use, the Will
needs to be witnessed and signed formally to make it a legally binding
document. Once done, updates will need to be made as official alterations called
“codicils” or a new Will written altogether.
What
should go in your Will?
First, you should outline who gets to
benefit from the Will. Also, if you have children under 18 years of age, you
will need to specify who should take care of them. Finally, appoint someone to
manage your estate and carry out your last wishes after your death. This person
is known as your executor.
Speaking of executors and your estate,
let’s talk about how your estate will be managed in the presence of a Will, and
compare it with what happens if you do not have a Will.
If you have made a Will, your executor will
have the responsibility of receiving probate and sorting out your estate. The
probate is a legal document that officially allows that person to begin the
work of sorting out your estate. It is sometimes known as a grant of
representation or confirmation. It isn’t always necessary if your executor is
your spouse and hold joint accounts with you, they may be able to go ahead
without this. It also applies if your estate doesn’t involve property and shares,
or if your bank account balance is considered small. In that case, your
executor will simply need to inform the bank that you have died, and produce
the death certificate if requested.
To receive probate, the executor may either
go through a probate specialist, or fill out the forms him or herself, for a
lower cost and with legal responsibility for ensuring that all claims are
accurate. He or she will need at least six (6) copies of your Will, and any
codicils and letters of wishes, your death, birth and marriage or civil
partnership certificates. A valuation of the estate will also be required.
Upon receiving probate, your executor can
then go on to pay off your debts and taxes, and distribute the remainder of
your estate, if any.
Now, if you do not have a Will at the time
of your death, you will be known as a ‘dying intestate’. Sorting out your
estate will not be impossible, but it will be far more complicated. The
government will ultimately decide who inherits what according to what are
called ‘intestacy rules’.
If a family member or friend is willing to
sort out your estate, they can apply for probate and become an administrator of
your estates, granting them the ability to value your estate, pay debts and
distribute the remainder. However, they will be bound by the intestacy rules,
which may not be to yours or your beneficiaries liking. Due to this, it is
strongly recommended that your executor make use of a probate specialist to
navigate this process under the limiting rules. This will be quite expensive,
unfortunately.
Paying debts and taxes under these rules is
simple, as they would be going to the government in either case. However, any
remaining estate will have to be distributed according to the intestacy rules.
In most cases, any spouse or civil partner still legally married to the
deceased will inherit the estate. Children may also inherit part of the estate
if it’s worth enough to accommodate this. Other close relatives may or may not
inherit a portion, depending on the location. All regions have different rules
for deciding who gets what. Do yourself a favor and make a Will to have your
estate divided according to your wishes.
Funeral
Alternatives in the UK & Nigeria
Several alternatives exist to the
traditional funeral consisting of classic casket, limousine, and church
service. Many individuals are opting for alternatives such as cremation,
woodland burials, and organ donation as ways to dispose or repurpose the bodies
they no longer need. Cremation is currently the most popular alternative, which
leaves behind only a small amount of ash that the family can choose to keep or
scatter. Green or woodland burials are quickly rising in popularity in the UK,
and involve a more natural, warm ceremony that lays the deceased to rest in
unique caskets made of bamboo, willow, cardboard, or other biodegradable
materials. Organ/body donation is a highly cost effective funeral alternative
that suits individuals who would rather not have a burial at all, and aren’t
interested in cremation either, choosing instead to donate their bodies to
medical use or scientific research after death.
Islamic Funerals in the UK
Islamic funerals involve the whole Islamic community,
including leaders and beyond the immediate family. If death is expected, the
family gathers nearby, to aid in the individual in passing over by seeking
forgiveness of any wrongs. To go about an Islamic funeral in the UK, the family
should call emergency medical services immediately after the death if it occurs
at home. If in a hospital or care home, the body should not be moved until a
death certificate is obtained. Upon request, permission can be obtained from
the funeral home to obtain the body for washing and performance of other
necessary Islamic rituals. Embalming and autopsy is prohibited by Muslim law and
must be avoided unless absolutely required by UK law. It is important to source
needed items and have them available before they are needed for a burial, as
many things may be difficult to locate in non-Muslim regions. Liaising between
local Muslim leaders and the director and staff of local funeral homes should
result in a successful ceremony.
Islamic Funerals in
Nigeria
In Nigeria, Islamic burials are much easier to go about than
in the UK. Islamic families bury the deceased with their heads toward Mecca.
The dead are buried almost immediately, before the next sunset and no casket is
needed as coffin made of some fabric can be used. Prayers are always made to
ensure that the deceased passes smoothly into the afterlife and doesn’t come
back to haunt the family. Other traditions vary from regions to region.
Nigerian women wear bright color that contrasts with the more well known
tradition of dark clothing and unassuming styles worn by Muslim women elsewhere
and a Nigerian funeral may involve more emotion and celebration than Islamic
funerals elsewhere. Western influences have effected some changes where the
dead are not always buried immediately, typically due to financial constraints
and some people may prefer to use caskets instead of fabric coffin.
Summary
Funeral planning is much more than simply
putting aside a sum of money for your burial. It involves selecting a funeral
plan that will adequately cover the costs of your final departure, in addition
to making a will, and ensure that you appoint an executor and beneficiaries to
make the process of handing your estate and finances after your death that much
simpler. It isn’t the nicest of things to plan for, but your family and friends
will definitely appreciate you taking the time to sort things out ahead of
time.
Disclaimer
This blog is a guide. Those who partake in the
opportunities this blog offers, do so at their risk. You are advised to do your
findings before embarking on any activities.
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